| Mike Yeager had the interim
label removed from his Carthage title. Carthage photo by Mike Gryniewicz |
Carthage athletic director Robert Bonn named Mike Yeager Carthage's head football coach on Dec. 6. Yeager completed his second year as Carthage's defensive coordinator in 2012 and served as interim head coach for the Red Men's final three games.
He replaces Tim Rucks, who was named an assistant athletic director in November after health issues prevented him from completing the season on the sidelines.
Yeager is the 21st Carthage football coach since the program began in 1895.
"Coach Yeager has exceptional coaching experience under some of the very special football coaching mentors in the country," said Bonn. Combining his football background with his knowledge of Carthage, our athletic program, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and most importantly, our football players, makes him uniquely qualified to be our next football coach."
Before joining Carthage in 2011, Yeager was an assistant coach at Indiana for five years from 2006 to 2010, three years coaching the safeties and two years with the linebackers. He was a graduate assistant for the Hoosiers in 2005.
Prior to his arrival at Indiana, Yeager spent five years as an assistant coach at Wooster. He started as the Scots' wide receivers coach in 2000 and 2001 before moving to special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2002 and defensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004.
A native of Cincinnati, Yeager lettered three times at linebacker at Miami (Ohio) between 1996 and 1999. As a senior, he was third on the team in tackles (116) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (3). He graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's in sport organization. He and his wife, Katrin, have a daughter, Rylan (age three).
"My family and I want to thank everyone at Carthage for this great opportunity," said Yeager. "I would also like to thank Coach Rucks for bringing me on board two years ago. Carthage is a very special place, and I am honored to take on the challenge of leading our football program. I am confident we will bring great pride to Carthage players, students and alumni through our performance and focus on the field, in the classroom and in the community."